FROM THE DIRECTOR This past year crossed the 26th year of my work in the violence against women field.  Among the many things I have learned over these years as an advocate, policy maker and now researcher is that women's risk of victimization is directly related to the degree to which any community talks about rape, battering and stalking.  Said another way, I believe women face the greatest risk of assault or harm when we remain silent about this sweeping injustice.  Our next generation of women and girls will become safe only when our communities regularly talk about violence against women.  There is no longer a secret to be kept here, we need to talk about it. It is estimated that one in every four women will experience intimate partner violence in her lifetime; that one in six women will experience an attempted or completed rape; and that one in twelve women will be stalked. We need to talk about this. While all women are at risk of victimization, some women appear to bear an even greater burden of potential harm than others: women of color, Native American women, and women in poverty.  We need to talk about that. Studies reveal that the most common cause of mortality in pregnant women in the United States today is homicide, most often an act committed by her partner.  We need to talk about that. Sexual assault is the least reported violent crime in the nation, and college women are at greater risk of sexual victimization than any other population of women.  We need to talk about all of that.      And one more...crimes of violence against women are not inevitable crimes.  This injustice is infinitely preventable.  Don't you think it's time we started talking about that? Today the Center for Research on Violence Against Women is beginning a new way to have conversations about intimate partner violence, sexual assault and stalking. This inaugural newsletter will help share with you stories of women and children and stories of our efforts to work on their behalf.  As you read through these electronic pages, I hope you'll find something to talk about. Carol E. Jordan, Assistant Provost Director, Center for Research on Violence Against Women